Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED
Messina 1347 blends economic strategy, plague‑battling, and territorial planning – a great pick for history buffs who love worker‑placement tactics.
Highlights
- Worker placement depth
- Economic strategy
- High replayability
- Historical theme
- Engaging solo mode
Keep in mind
- Long average playtime
- Medium complexity
- Robust components
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About the game
What you do in a play session
Messina 1347 takes you back to 1347, when the Black Death starts spreading through Messina, Sicily. You assume the role of one of the city’s influential families and decide to flee to the countryside, where the survivors are welcomed. While the epidemic ravages the city, you must organize resources, deploy workers, and ensure the rescued residents have what they need. Simultaneously, the countryside economy grows, allowing you to produce food, trade, and even generate extra income. Each turn, you move your workers on a modular board using grid and track movement to reach different action sites. The income mechanic ensures economic success is crucial, while variable player powers add strategic nuance as each family has unique abilities. The game offers an engaging solo mode but also works well with 1 to 4 players. Replayability is high thanks to variable setup and random plague events. In terms of complexity, the game is medium, requiring planning and attention to detail without being overly technical. Robust components—wooden worker tokens, event cards, and a well‑crafted modular board—enhance the historical atmosphere. If you enjoy games that blend economic strategy, disease control, and territorial planning with rich historical themes, Messina 1347 is a choice worth exploring.
Gallery
Box and component photos
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Rules videos
Learn by watching before you open the box
In English
Best player count
BGG community vote
1
REC
2
REC
3
BEST
4
REC
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
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Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
Delicious Games, Arrakis Games, Fox in the Box, Gémklub, Hobby World, Jumping Turtle Games, Mosaico Jogos, MTS Games, Portal Games, Rio Grande Games, 数寄ゲームズ (Suki Games), Tesla Games, YOKA Games
Designer
Raúl Fernández Aparicio, Vladimír Suchý
Artist
Michal Peichl
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
7,363owners
1,248wishlist
147want to play
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
How long does a game last?
On average, a game takes between 60 and 140 minutes, depending on player count and game phase.
How many players can play?
Messina 1347 supports 1 to 4 players, offering a compelling solo experience as well as group dynamics.
What is the game’s complexity?
The complexity is medium; it requires strategic planning and attention to detail without being overly technical.
What components are included?
The game includes wooden worker tokens, event cards, a modular board, resource tokens, and income components.
Who is the game aimed at?
Ideal for history buffs, economic strategists, and worker‑placement lovers who enjoy high replayability challenges.
Is there a solo mode?
Yes, there is a solo mode that lets you face the plague independently, with unique challenges.
What is the replayability level?
Very high, thanks to variable setup, random events, and diverse player powers.
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